The exhibition “Kosovo’s Independence in the Albanian Press” opened today at the National and University Library of Kosovo to commemorate the 17th anniversary of Kosovo’s independence. The event, hosted at the “Pjetër Bogdani” Library in Pristina, brought attention to how Albanian media covered the declaration of independence on February 17, 2008, and the developments surrounding this historical event.
Adelina Çekaj, a local citizen, visited the exhibition and shared her thoughts. She mentioned seeing old newspapers that unfortunately no longer exist today and highlighted that the headlines from those papers carry significant historical meaning that must be passed down through generations.
“I think that not only we, the generation that experienced the war, but also the new generations, who now enjoy Kosovo’s independence, should know the history behind this exhibition. What I saw were many newspapers that, unfortunately, are no longer in print, but these headlines speak volumes about us as a people. This is a story that is written and should be passed on from generation to generation, so they can see what the people of Kosovo actually suffered and the sacrifices they made for us to enjoy the freedom and independence we have today,” she said.
Naile Çekaj, another visitor, praised the exhibition for its insightful representation of history. “I think this exhibition is very fitting because it presents a lot of our history, including the moment of independence. I noticed that the headlines were not only from Kosovo but also from Albania, and even international media outlets covered the event. For us, it was a very significant day. I don’t think it was just for us, the younger generation, but also for others who had been waiting for this day for centuries. We were naturally excited for the declaration of independence. We didn’t know the exact date, but we were gathered around the TV,” she shared.
On the 17th anniversary of Kosovo’s independence, citizens are celebrating proudly, remembering all those who sacrificed so much to achieve this milestone.
